Community News

Fire Managers Methodically Prepare to Use Fire for Resource Benefits

June 7, 2017

Williams,Ariz.,June7, 2017—ForImmediateRelease.While the fire activity picked up on the mid-slope of Kendrick Mountain, fire managers spent yesterday preparing firelines for future ignition operations that are designed to provide resource benefits to the forest. The 450-acreBoundaryFireiscurrentlyburningon the FlagstaffRangerDistrictoftheCoconinoNational Forestbutisexpectedto move onto theKaibabNationalForestsideoftheboundaryline withinthe nextseveral days. The prep work is slow and methodical, but fire managers are setting the stage for the measured reintroduction of fire that will benefit the forest by removing heavy fuel accumulations across Kendrick Mountain. Allowing fire to play its natural role within the ecosystem will provide for long term ecosystem health and integrity of the Kendrick Mountain Wilderness and adjacent forest and range lands. These benefits will assist in preserving critical wildlife habitat, archaeological sites, wilderness values, ecosystem diversity, range allotments, as well improving ecosystem resiliency. Formoreinformation,detailsandthe specificobjectives fortheBoundaryFire,pleasevisitinciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5209/.QuickupdateswillalsobeprovidedviaTwitterat @KaibabNFand @CoconinoNF.Pleasefollow usifyouwouldliketo be updatedas informationisreceived.

ExpectedActions:Firesuppressionactivitiesfortoday includecontinuing prepping andimprovingcontrollineon all sides of the fire.The purpose of the work is to protect identified values at risk, including private property and structures at Pumpkin Center, Boys Ranch, Mexican spotted owl Protected Activity Centers, and Pumpkin Center.CrewswillbeginstructureprotectionatKendrickMountainLookoutand thehistoric 1911 cabinthat is at the lookout.Noignitionsareplannedatthis time, buttheremay be the needforfiringoperationsto remove fuels nearfirelines toprotectstructures.